Research Seminars @ Illinois

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Tailored for undergraduate researchers, this calendar is a curated list of research seminars at the University of Illinois. Explore the diverse world of research and expand your knowledge through engaging sessions designed to inspire and enlighten.

To have your events added or removed from this calendar, please contact OUR at ugresearch@illinois.edu

Distinguished Lecture: James Mickens, "Allow Me To Transfer Part Of My Genius To You While Still Keeping Some Of It For Myself So That I Can Defeat You If Necessary"

Event Type
Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor
Siebel School of Computing and Data Science
Location
HYBRID: 2405 Siebel Center for Computer Science and online
Virtual
wifi event
Date
Apr 9, 2025   3:30 pm  
Views
31
Originating Calendar
Siebel School Distinguished Lecture Series

Zoom Link: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/83847106979?pwd=K84QkPKo6SbLnpP3TLUqaQauk1mnRE.1

Reception following program.

Abstract:
How can a person succeed at computer science and at life? Legendary philosopher James Mickens has the answers! Using mostly negative examples, James Mickens will explore the failures of various people as a way to understand what not to do in computer science. He will then engage in lengthy and heroic diatribes about his own victories, using the first, second, or third person voice as required by the mood and local weather conditions. His sincere hope is that all undergraduates and graduate students at UIUC will attend his talk so that he can (1) determine the strongest ones, and then (2) recruit them into an army that he will use to attack the University of Chicago.

Bio: 
Banned in 23 countries and the founder of the remaining 172, James Mickens is an island but everyone is invited. His foundational contributions to computer science include function calls, faith-based cryptography, the realization that rectangles are similar to but not exactly squares, and his notorious paper "Math Is An Illusion" in which he proved that odd numbers are inherently suspicious and even numbers are too good to be true. His paper on Y.O.L.O.-based model training was the first machine learning paper to embrace the idea of doing random unprincipled things while seeming fancy because equations are involved. A firm believer that young people are the future, James Mickens is the main character in classic children's books like "Sunshine Island," "Cookies for Breakfast," and "For Whom The Spider Hunts I Do Not Know But There Are A Lot Of Spiders In This Room."
 

Part of the Illinois Computer Science Speakers Series. Faculty Host: Aishwarya Ganesan

Meeting ID: 838 4710 6979
Password: csillinois

If accommodation is required, please email <erink@illinois.edu> or <communications@cs.illinois.edu>. Someone from our staff will contact you to discuss your specific needs.


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